Direct Stream MP4

[flakie 11]

Direct streaming an mp4 but when I click the ! I get the following:

 

The media is compatible with the device regarding resolution and media type (H.264, AC3, etc.), but is in an incompatible file container (.mkv, .avi, .wmv, etc.). The video will be re-packaged on the fly before streaming it to the device.

 

It is an mp4 not an mkv (the only 2 types on my NAS) but this one mp4 wont play unless *Allow audio playback that requires transcoding* is enabled for the user. Or it could be *Allow video playback that requires conversion without re-encoding*. Not tested it thoroughly.

Not a problem as is not using hardly any cpu but just wondering why?

 

<edit> this is when playing via chromecast</edit>

Edited July 7, 2019 by flakie

[Luke 42077]

Let's look at an example. Please attach the information requested in how to report a media playback issue. thanks !

[flakie 11]

I cannot for this one video. its a bit private. Just a general question really. will do the report if I get another.

Is there not a general answer for this one?

I never made this mp4 myself.

Could an mp4 be packaged as an mkv?

Guess I could re-encode, mp4 to mp4, myself if needs be.

[Luke 42077]

Mp4 is fine for Chromecast. I can't provide any more detail than that without looking at the specifics of an example. Thanks.

[flakie 11]

ok will turn off transcoding to find one and post log etc

Then turn it back on and post that log (I seem to have to restart emby when I turn on/off transcoding).

[Luke 42077]

Thanks.

[flakie 11]

OK, after a bit of testing it seems it is the audio that is the problem.
With audio transcoding off (and video transcoding on) it fails to play.
With audio transcoding on (and video transcoding off) it plays OK.
 
Video is Wolf Creek 2005
Wolf creek (2005).mp4

First test is with video and audio transcoding turned off.
Playing from android app to chromecast.
Attempted to cast it.
It appears like it is about to play but after about 10+ seconds it goes back to ready to cast screen.
Repeated test a few seconds later with same result.
 
 
 
 
Second test is with audio transcoding turned on (video transcoding turned off).
Again Playing from android app to chromecast.
Video plays OK.
 


Third test is with video transcoding turned on (audio transcoding turned off).
Again Playing from android app to chromecast.
It appears like it is about to play but after about 10+ seconds it goes back to ready to cast screen.
Repeated test a few seconds later with same result.
 

 

 

 

Edited July 7, 2019 by flakie

[Luke 42077]

ffmpeg log?

[flakie 11]

These are the ones when all transcoding was turned off (rest to follow):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[flakie 11]

This is the one when only audio transcoding was turned on (video only to follow):

 

 

[flakie 11]

These are the ones when only video transcoding was turned on:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Luke 42077]

When the audio codec is AAC, Chromecast does not support more than 2 channels.

 

Please note - You did not need me to answer this. The server dashboard can tell you why it is transcoding.

[Luke 42077]

These are the ones when only video transcoding was turned on:

 

Log-ffmpeg-video-encoding-only-on-01.txt

 

Log-ffmpeg-video-encoding-only-on-02.txt

 

Log-ffmpeg-video-encoding-only-on-03.txt

 

Log-ffmpeg-video-encoding-only-on-04.txt

 

Log-ffmpeg-video-encoding-only-on-05.txt

 

Log-ffmpeg-video-encoding-only-on-06.txt

 

This one isn't even worth looking at based on answer above as it's not going to work if it can't convert the audio.

[Luke 42077]

Moral of the story: Leave the settings on and trust that Emby will always direct play whenever possible, and then both you and I can avoid all of this.

[flakie 11]

Ah OK, Thanks. Never noticed anything on server dashboard about why it needed transcoding, except for what I posted in OP.

Will take more care to look further next time. In fact I will check it now to see where this information is.

 

I don't want any video transcoding going on, my NAS cannot take the hit as more is going on than just media playback on this device.

Has to be this way until I can afford a second NAS again, dedicated to media.

 

But audio transcoding is acceptable if it has little impact on cpu.

 

The moral of this if someone gives me a video file I should re-encode it myself.

I originally ripped this myself years ago but it was at a time when hdd space was a premium so quality was not so good and it was an avi format.

I got lazy here. I took a friends copy.

I should have ripped the DVD again myself and the audio would have just been stereo and mp3 and I would not be here posting this

[flakie 11]

Could you please point me in right direction on where to look in dashboard that explains why it is transcoding?

All I see is it is direct streaming and additional info:

 

The media is compatible with the device regarding resolution and media type (H.264, AC3, etc.), but is in an incompatible file container (.mkv, .avi, .wmv, etc.). The video will be re-packaged on the fly before streaming it to the device.


Direct Streaming a file uses very little processing power without any loss in video quality.

[Luke 42077]

@@flakie, you're right. We need to improve the way this is displayed. Thanks for the feedback.